McIlroy wins Golfer of the Month

Rory McIlroy has been named The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month for August following his stunning, record-breaking victory in the US PGA Championship.

The Northern Irishman, who receives an engraved alms dish and a jeroboam of Moët & Chandon champagne, romped to an eight-shot win at Kiawah Island – the same margin of victory as his first Major triumph in the 2011 US Open Championship – holding off a surging Ian Poulter and the surprise challenge of Englishman David Lynn.

Having been tied for the lead at the halfway stage, McIlroy accelerated ahead of the field with superb weekend rounds of 67 and 66 to finish with a 13 under par aggregate and become the first Northern Irishman to win the title.

His was the largest winning margin since the US PGA Championship became a stroke play event in 1958, and the victory moved him back to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking.

McIlroy then continued his superb form to win the Deutsche Bank Championship on the US PGA Tour on Monday, carding four rounds in the 60s to win by one from fellow European Tour Member and 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen.

The 23 year old was the overwhelming choice of the Race to Dubai Golfer of the Month Panel comprising members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as commentators from radio and television. The panel also praised the exploits of Scotsmen Paul Lawrie and Richie Ramsay, and Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

Lawrie and Ramsay made it back to back Scottish wins by claiming the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles and the Omega European Masters respectively in consecutive weeks, while Garcia won the Wyndham Championship on the US PGA Tour to guarantee automatic qualification for the European Ryder Cup Team.

Bill Elliott, Chairman of the Association of Golf Writers, said: “What a month! Of course, Rory has to be the man, but Sergio Garcia’s winning surge into the Ryder Cup team followed by Paul Lawrie’s victory in Scotland were fabulous efforts. All three men have turbo-charged the European team’s confidence at a vital time.

“Richie Ramsay also deserves a mention for his excellent win in Crans-sur-Sierre, which made it back to back Scottish winners on The European Tour.”

McIlroy follows Branden Grace (January), Paul Lawrie (February), Rory McIlroy (March), Louis Oosthuizen (April), Luke Donald (May) and Jamie Donaldson (June) and Ernie Els (July) in winning a Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month Award this year. All eight will join subsequent recipients in being considered for The 2012 Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Year Award.